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| This article is a machine translation of an article written in Japanese. If there are any inconsistencies or errors in the translation, we would appreciate it if you could point them out to us. |
Original article：【ゲイの東京暮らし】どの路線沿いの街がおすすめなの？
Hello everyone! I'm Kengo from IRIS, a real estate company that is LGBTs friendly and run by LGBTs individuals.
Many people who want to live in Tokyo often wonder, "I don't have a sense of the area in the city, so I don't know where to look for a room," or "I'm not sure which train line would be best."
When I first looked for a room in Tokyo, I had no sense of the area and was quite confused while searching.
In this article, I will introduce "recommended train lines and neighborhoods with good access to places like Shinjuku and Shibuya, which are popular among gays!"
Recommended Train Line for Gays : Chuo-Sobu Line
The Chuo-Sobu Line is a train line that connects the heart of Tokyo with the Chiba area. If I were to describe the Chuo-Sobu Line in a nutshell, it would be a line with many towns that are easy to live in and have reasonable rent levels.
It's also the line that connects the Nakano district, which is popular among gays, with Shinjuku. Therefore, it can be said that there are quite a few gay users of the Chuo-Sobu Line.
Along the Chuo-Sobu Line, there are many areas popular as residential areas, such as Ogikubo and Mitaka. Due to this, the line experiences considerable congestion during commuting hours.
Higashi-Nakano
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Higashi-Nakano is a neighborhood on the Chuo-Sobu Line that is quite close to Shinjuku Station. Although it doesn't have many large shopping streets or a plethora of dining options, it's only a mere 5 minutes away from Shinjuku Station.
Additionally, due to its location being sandwiched between Nakano and Shinjuku stations, it's not only close to Shinjuku Station but also about a 3-minute journey to Nakano Station.
Recently, the number of gay bars and similar establishments has been increasing not just in Shinjuku but also in the Nakano area, making the accessibility to Nakano Station a significant advantage.
Higashi-Nakano is more of a residential area, with many apartments and condominiums. The rent tends to be more affordable compared to surrounding areas, making it a comfortable place to live.
There's a Gold's Gym very close to the station, which is ideal for those who want to live near a gym. Additionally, if you go to Nakano Station, you can access another Gold's Gym, providing more options for fitness enthusiasts.
Ogikubo
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Ogikubo is a town located further along the Chuo-Sobu Line than Nakano. Although it's a bit farther from Shinjuku, you can get there directly by train in about 15 minutes, which is quite a convenient distance.
While the rent tends to be slightly higher, the area around the station is well-developed, so there are few inconveniences. For shopping and simple entertainment, the area around the station should be more than sufficient.
You can also get to Shinjuku-sanchome Station directly by train, and since it's a starting station for the Tokyo Metro, if you work along the Tokyo Metro line, your commute could be relatively comfortable.
Koenji
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Koenji is the station (and town) next to Nakano Station when coming from Shinjuku Station. It's quite close to Shinjuku, allowing you to reach Shinjuku in about 10 minutes. Nakano Station, with its large shopping district, is also only about 5 minutes away, offering great convenience.
Koenji itself is a town with a highly developed area around the station. There are several shopping streets near the station, and the "Junjo Street Shopping District" alone boasts about 200 shops.
It's no exaggeration to say that Koenji offers an environment where you can enjoy shopping without the need to travel by train. The presence of numerous vintage clothing stores and stylish cafes is also a significant attraction.
Despite being a town that combines a vibrant shopping district with excellent access to the Shinjuku area, the fact that the average rent for a studio apartment is in the 60,000 yen range is also appealing.
Recommended Train Line for Gays : Fukutoshin Line
The Fukutoshin Line is a train line that connects Wako City to Shibuya. Along its route, it passes through major areas like "Ikebukuro, Shinjuku-sanchome (the closest station to Shinjuku-nichome), and Meiji-jingu-mae (Harajuku)," making it a quite luxurious line.
I often used the Fukutoshin Line myself and found it extremely convenient to be able to travel directly between Shibuya, Meiji-jingu-mae (Harajuku), Shinjuku-sanchome, and Ikebukuro on a single train.
Another attractive feature of the Fukutoshin Line is the abundance of residential areas along the line.
Zoshigaya
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Zoshigaya, along the Fukutoshin Line, is quite a residential area. While the main streets have a fair amount of traffic and might be somewhat noisy, overall, it can be described as a very quiet residential neighborhood.
Located between Ikebukuro and Shinjuku-sanchome on the Fukutoshin Line, it's possible to walk to both Ikebukuro and Shinjuku-sanchome (nichome). Although Zoshigaya itself doesn't have many shops, the proximity to Ikebukuro means you're unlikely to have trouble with shopping.
Using the Fukutoshin Line, you can access Gold's Gym in Harajuku, and if you get off at Nishi-Waseda Station, you can use the Shinjuku Sports Center. The Ikebukuro Sports Center is also available near Ikebukuro Station. The area's abundance of parks also makes it recommended for those who enjoy running.
However, the area has many slopes, so it might not be suitable for those with weaker legs or mobility issues.
Kanamecho
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Kanamecho is a station located beyond Ikebukuro on the Fukutoshin Line. It's quite close to Ikebukuro, allowing for an easy walk to Ikebukuro, typically taking about 15 to 20 minutes.
Despite its proximity to Ikebukuro, the rent in Kanamecho is quite reasonable, with studio apartments averaging around 70,000 yen. If you're lucky, you might even find a room for less than 50,000 yen.
You might expect a lot of noise due to its closeness to Ikebukuro, but in reality, it's a relatively calm area. Apart from the main streets, it offers a quiet living environment.
While there aren't many shops, there are convenience stores and supermarkets, so you can easily get daily necessities and quick meals. If you need more, Ikebukuro is nearby and has almost everything you could need.
Ikebukuro is also known for its delicious eateries, making it an attractive area for those who enjoy exploring different food options.
Yamanote Line
The Yamanote Line is "a highly convenient line that connects major stations in Tokyo." It's arguably the most prominent line in Tokyo in terms of presence.
Being a line with a high number of users, the areas around stations on the Yamanote Line tend to be well-developed. Consequently, the rent in these areas is relatively higher, but there are also locations closer to residential areas.
Living near a station on the Yamanote Line can significantly ease transportation to various parts of the city.
Takadanobaba
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Takadanobaba, located along the Yamanote Line, is a town with reasonably priced rent and a variety of shops that make life convenient. Being a student area, it's great to have entertainment facilities like karaoke.
The town is also rich in dining options, with a mix of large chain restaurants and popular independent eateries that often have queues. It's fair to say that you'll never run out of dining options.
Situated between Ikebukuro and Shinjuku on the Yamanote Line, Takadanobaba offers quick access to both, with only about a 4-minute train ride to each. It's also about 6 minutes to Nakano Station, making it a town with excellent accessibility.
Moreover, there are many gyms, and with a short train ride, you can access Gold's Gym in Otsuka or Nakano. It's a recommended area for those who enjoy fitness and working out.
Nishi-Nippori
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Nishi-Nippori is one of the most affordable neighborhoods to live in along the Yamanote Line. If you're looking to minimize rent while living in a town along the Yamanote Line, Nishi-Nippori is highly recommended.
Situated between Ikebukuro and Ueno, it offers great ease of travel in multiple directions. It's particularly convenient for traveling to areas like Asakusa and Akihabara, as well as towards Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures, which is a significant advantage.
Recently, with the growing popularity of Shinjuku-nichome as a tourist destination, there's been a trend of increased activity in gay bars and similar establishments in the Ikebukuro and Ueno areas. For those interested in exploring gay bars beyond Shinjuku-nichome, this area could be a great choice.
While there aren't many large supermarkets, there are enough shops around the station for daily necessities, so you shouldn't have any trouble for basic needs. For larger shopping trips or entertainment, you would likely head to Ikebukuro.
Summary of Recommended Train Lines for Gay Life in Tokyo
The recommended train lines in Tokyo for gays are as follows:
- Along the Chuo-Sobu Line: A line with good access to Shinjuku and Shinjuku-sanchome, passing through areas like Nakano and Ogikubo.
- Along the Fukutoshin Line: A line that provides direct access to Shinjuku-sanchome, Shibuya, Harajuku, and Ikebukuro.
- Along the Yamanote Line: Although rent tends to be higher, this line offers direct access to major stations such as Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Harajuku, Tokyo, Ueno, and Akihabara.
For those who are unsure about where to live in Tokyo, please consider the above-mentioned train lines as a reference for your search!
